BREAK OUT YOUR DANCING SHOES. Slaughter a sheep. Bang a drum. Nail yourself to a cross. Festivities mark our years and our lives, our births and our deaths.
Celebrating Independence Day in Mongu, Zambia.
It was easy to find the celebrations for Independence Day in Mongu, in Zambia's west.
Eid in peacetime Aleppo, Syria.
Even in Kuta, Balinese traditions can been seen, like this funeral procession in 1995.
A wedding couple serenaded at Gondar Castle, Ethiopia.
Founded in the 17th century, Gondar Castle is a popular wedding spot.
Singing, dancing and much merriment are part of an Ethiopian wedding.
Some last minute adjustments, Gondar, Ethiopia.
I snapped this from the bus window as we left Gondar. It could have been a funeral, or a political rally, or anything else. They looked like they were enjoying themselves, so I filed it under "celebration".
A band performs for a wedding in our hotel grounds, Istaravshan, Tajikistan.
Ala Archa is a mountainous national park close to the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. It is a popular spot for wedding celebrations.
A wedding party in Osh, Kyrgyzstan sees some uncle dancing.
Bride and groom, Osh, Kyrgyzstan. As usual, the guests were having the most fun.
Held every two years, the World Nomad Games is a celebration of sports and culture of the steppes. 2016 (and 19) were hedl in Kyrgyzstan. 2020 was scheduled to be held in Turkey.
My camera refused to focus on the wrestling, but somehow shot works. World Nomad Games, Kyrgyzstan.
Kazak riders score against Kyrgyzstan, by throwing a headless goat into the goal, in the kokbaru final in Kyrgyzstan, World Nomad Games, 2016.
The 2018 World Nomad Games featured 2000 athletes from 82 countries, competing in 37 sports. Wrestling, hunting archery and horses are the main focus, often combining two at the same time.
Young men practise Lion Dance in preparation for Chinese New Year, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia.
The India Festival of Light, Divali, celebrated in Penang, Malaysia.
The stunning run of Thailand's womens T20 cricket team went all the way to the World Cup. Here they are celebrating their second early English wicket.
Flower girls at a Sri Lankan wedding, which, like most cultures is the biggest event in a family.
The bride, eyes suitable downcast, arrives in her new Tajik village in Uzbekistan's mountains. While the rest of the village celebrates, a bride must show sadness for leaving her family.
But for the others, especially the conservative old girls, it's time to kick up your heels.
Tamborines, drums, ululating and dancing signal the brides' arrival.
Weddings are massive and expensive affairs, and so many weddings are hosted by two couples to share costs.
Everyone from miles around was there. Plov, lamb, bread, salads, fruit and sacks full of vodka.
While the guests enjoy themselves, the couples sit stern faced all day, rarely moving from their place.
The sculpted parks on the grounds of the Ak Saray Palace ruins in Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan, is always busy with marrying couples celebrating their big day.
And it wouldn't be a wedding without some fussing over the dress.
In the rural town of Phrae in northern Thailand, girls lead the school parade throughthe streets. I have witnessed these parades a couple of times, and dress ranges from traditional to vampire to cos-play to just downright weird.
Thailand's Songkran water festival has devolved into a heavily armed water fight free-for-all in Chiang Mai, fun once, for a day. Away from Thapae gate, it is a bit better.
The festival welcomes the new year, where people bless each other with a scoop of water to wash away the year's sin.
A young couple in Tainan, southern Taiwan, don traditional dress for wedding photos.
Young girls in tradition, formal wear in a wee Thai border town, Arunothai.
Songkran is heaps more fun upcountry than in Thailand's bigger cities. On the road between Mae Sariang and Mae Hong Son, came across several villages partying on the highway.
Town folk in Mae Sariang stops motorcyclists for a drink and a soaking during Songkran.
A school parade in the Thai border town of Mae Sot, a mix of traditional, Victorian, Gothic, cowboy and downright weird.
Traditional Thai formal dress worn by students in their school parade through the streets of Mae Sot.
Two nuclear armed countries face off every day, with marching, dancing, preening and twirling of moustaches, at the Wagah border crossing between India and Pakistan.